Adjective Clauses

Definition of adjective clause:

It's a dependant clause with a finite verb and sometimes a subject. It used to modify nouns and can never be used by itself.

2 types:

1. Relative Clause
2. Nominal Relative Clause

Relative Clauses

Definition of relative clause:

It's a type of adjective clause; therefore, it's a dependent clause used to modify a noun. A relative clause normally begins with a relative clause marker (pronoun), it always has a finit (main) verb, and it sometimes has a subject.

5 relative clause markers:

1. who: people
2. whom: people (object)
3. which: non-people
4. whose: possession
5. that: both people and non-people

2 types of relative clauses:

1. defining
2. non-defining

Defining/Non-defining

Definition of defining relative clause:

When the information given in the relative clause is essential for understanding by the listener.

Examples:

• The restaurant which we went to last night was very good.
• The cake that my mother baked is on the table.

Definition of non-defining relative clause:

When the information given in the relative clause is extra information and not essential for understanding by the listener.

Examples:

• This pen, which I have in my hand, is red.
• John, who is my friend, is a teacher.

Rules:

1. Do not use commas with defining relative clauses.
2. Use commas for non-defining relative clauses.
3. We cannot use That with non-defining relative clauses.
4. Proper nouns are used with non-defining relative clauses.

How can I recognize a relative clause?

The quick and simple answer is "something is missing".

A relative clause begins with a relative clause marker. This relative clause marker is preceded by an antecedent - the noun before the marker.

• The café which is on Queen Street is very popular.

  café is the antecedent.

Antecedent

3 different positions in a relative clause:

1. Subject of the relative clause:
   • The boy who fell over is crying.
2. Object of the relative clause:
   • The jacket which I bought was on sale.
3. Object of the preposition of the relative clause:
   • The university which I applied for is in New York.

When can I omit or not omit the relative clause marker?

4 cases where we can omit or cannot omit the marker:

1. When the antecedent is the subject of the relative clause, we cannot omit:
   • The man who telephoned me was quite rude!
2. When the antecedent is the object of the relative clause, we can omit.
   • The man who I telephoned was quite rude!
   • The man I telephoned was quite rude!
3. When the antecedent is the object of the preposition, we can omit; however, the preposition must go at the end of the relative clause if it was orifinally placed before the relative clause marker (formal English).
   • The university for which I applied is in New York.
   • The university which I applied for is in New Work.
   • The university I applied for is in New York.
4. When the relative clause marker is followed by a "be" verb we can omit the marker.
   • The boy who is sitting over there is my son.
   • The boy sitting over there is my son.
   • If the remaining word, or words, does not indicate a continuous action and does not have an object or complement, the remaining word(s) should be placed in the front of the antecedent.
     • The car which is red is the cheapest.
     • The car red is the cheapest
     • The red car is the cheapest.
     • The customer who is waiting is becoming impatient.
     • The customer waiting is becoming impation.